Become a monthly donor
Big or small, your recurring gift helps them all!
Yes, I want to support the Whatcom Humane Society!
Donations help sustain our shelter and support our programs to care for animals in Whatcom County.
WHS is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on generous donations from our community to fund the vital programs and services we offer. We are not a government agency nor associated with any other animal welfare organization, national or otherwise. When you donate, your contributions stay local and help sustain our shelters and support our programs to care for animals throughout Whatcom County. Our Tax ID is 91-0677564.
make a one-time donation:
Provide general support, become a Hay Hero, or give to wildlife in need.
start a monthly donation:
Give the gift of consistent care across our shelters with your recurring donation.
Make a tribute donation
Honor a special person or pet by making a donation in their name or memory.
The Whatcom Humane Society is committed to being a resource our region can always count on, and WHS members are invested in our lifesaving mission and the communities we serve. Membership funds give our staff and volunteer teams the resources necessary to provide quality veterinary care, nutritious food, safe shelter, advocacy, protection, and second chances to countless domestic, farm, and wild animals each year. Please consider becoming a member today, and know that your contribution will make a difference right here in our community, right away. Thank you!
Paw Protector ($50/yr): As a Paw Protector, your annual membership provides for the daily care needs of domestic, farm, and wild animals across our facilities.
Benefits:
Animal Ally ($100/yr): As an Animal Ally, your annual membership assists with a variety of veterinary, behavior & enrichment care needs for animals of all kinds.
Benefits:
Critter Caregiver ($200/yr): As a Critter Caregiver, your annual membership supports the ongoing operations of our facilities so we can continue to give the highest quality care.
Benefits:
*Must present membership card to redeem.
Membership dues will be renewed annually from the date of your annual membership renewal/donation. You will receive an email prompting you to renew or cancel anytime via PayPal.
To become a member, please select the annual membership level you would like below and then click the purple pawprint. That will take you to PayPal to complete registration. Keep in mind that this is a recurring membership and the amount you choose will be renewed every year on the date you signed up on.
Furever Friend ($5,000 one-time): As a lifetime member and Furever Friend to the animals, your contribution delivers critical assistance for our more extensive operational needs.
Benefits:
*Must present membership card to redeem.
Celebrate animals through your entire life with a $5,000 lifetime membership to Whatcom Humane Society.
Donated items that we accept
We cannot accept the following items at our shelter*:
*Please note that some of the below items may be accepted at our Thrift Shop (see the Thrift Shop's full list here).
- Bedding (comforters, electric blankets, quilts, fitted sheets, pillowcases)
- Pillows of any size or type
- Mattresses or mattress toppers
- Human clothes
- Medications or medical supplies of any kind
- Washcloths and dish towels
- Children’s toys/stuffed animals
- Rusted crates/carriers
- Pet or human food that needs to be refrigerated or frozen
- Expired or prescription pet food
Other Ways to Give
Animal Advocate
Become a sustaining supporter by establishing a recurring donation toward WHS's daily animal care needs.
Make a donation through our Animal Advocate program and give a second chance to animals that come through the doors of our domestic animal shelter, wildlife rehabilitation center, and farm. You will receive ongoing information about the animals being cared for across Whatcom Humane Society's facilities and how your support helps homeless, abused, and orphaned animals throughout our community.
We will automatically transfer your gift for this time period without needing to process additional transactions. Your advocacy will continue as long as you want; cancel anytime.
We will automatically transfer your gift for this time period without needing to process additional transactions. Your advocacy will continue as long as you want; cancel anytime.
We will automatically transfer your gift for this time period without needing to process additional transactions. Your advocacy will continue as long as you want; cancel anytime.
Sponsorships
Be a community leader and support our efforts to shelter and care for animals in need by sponsoring an event or campaign! WHS has been serving animals and communities throughout Whatcom County since 1902; each year, more than 5,000 animals receive care at our domestic animal shelter, farm facility, and wildlife rehabilitation center. When you become a Whatcom Humane Society sponsor, you become a part of a group of supporters making a crucial difference in the lives of animals in need and in service of strengthening our entire community.
Click the link below to view our Sponsorship Packet, or contact our Development Manager for more info at (360) 733-2080 ext. 3014 or development@whatcomhumane.org
Planned Giving
Create a legacy of kindness, compassion, and respect for all animals. Your gift will go toward the care of domestic, farm, and wild animals throughout Whatcom County.
To help you get started, we've partnered with FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating a legally valid will or trust. You can use this resource on its own or to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney. Through FreeWill, you can also easily plan beneficiaries for your non-probate assets in one place. These are assets you pass on outside of your will, such as lRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, life insurance policies, and certain bank and brokerage accounts.
Already included us in your will? Thank you so much! Please let us know by filling out this form. We would love to thank you for your generosity.
When stock, and certain other assets like real estate, have been owned for more than a year and then donated to WHS, you receive a tax deduction for its full value AND you completely avoid any tax on the capital gain. Check with your investment broker or attorney to discuss options.
By naming WHS the owner of an existing life insurance policy, you receive a tax deduction. If premiums are still owed once the policy is contributed, you can obtain additional tax deductions by continuing to pay the premiums. Even if you want to retain ownership of a policy, you can still name WHS as a recipient of some or all of the policy’s proceeds upon your death.
Where shopping & giving unite: Support WHS while shopping at Fred Meyer with your Rewards Card. Fred Meyer donates millions each year to local schools, community organizations, and nonprofits like us. All you have to do is link your Rewards Card to us (Community Rewards number JD973) and use it every time you shop—it’s that easy!
You’re done! Your Fred Meyer Rewards Card is now helping to earn money for the animals. Thank you for your support!
Host an event
Would you like to help WHS animals by hosting an event? Gather your friends, family, and fellow animal lovers to host a trivia night, art show, bake sale, or other event, then donate your proceeds to benefit animals at the Whatcom Humane Society. It’s as simple as that! If you’re ready to get started on planning your event to help our furry friends, we’d love to help you brainstorm; please contact us to learn about our third-party event guidelines at development@whatcomhumane.org or 360-733-2080 x 3014.
Donate a Vehicle
You auto donate your old car, truck, boat, or trailer for the animals at the Whatcom Humane Society! All vehicles must be in good running condition and with a clean title—no junkers, please! Your donation is tax deductible and will help support the programs and services that WHS provides all year long.
“We Love Our Pets” Specialty License Plates
Here’s a great way to show your support for spay/neuter programs across Washington State! Purchase a specialty Washington license plate for your vehicle called “We Love Our Pets”. A portion of the fees generated from the sale of these license plates go to spay and neuter programs via the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies. Visit the Washington State Department of Licensing to order yours today.
Donor Privacy Policy
The Whatcom Humane Society respects the privacy of our donors and is committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all fundraising efforts. We therefore do not share, loan, trade, rent, or sell our donor list to any other non-affiliated organization.
To ensure that our donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the Whatcom Humane Society, we follow the Donor Bill of Rights.
The Whatcom Humane Society respects the privacy of our donors and is committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all fundraising efforts. We therefore do not share, loan, trade, rent, or sell our donor list to any other non-affiliated organization.
We collect and use information about our donors including name, address, phone number, email address, and mailing preferences. In addition, we keep a record of each donor’s giving history. This information is kept on file for IRS purposes and is also used by our Development Department to analyze overall giving patterns in order to make more accurate budget projections and plan for the future or our organization.
Information on our donors is password protected and may only be accessed by individuals who need such information to perform their assigned duties for the Whatcom Humane Society. This includes individuals or companies who prepare mailings, enter or analyze data, visit donors, plan fundraising events, work in a fundraising capacity for the organization, or prepare budgets and forecasts.
To publicly recognize and thank donors for their generosity, we include a list of donor names in our quarterly newsletter. The wishes of donors who prefer to remain anonymous will always be honored.
To ensure that our donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the Whatcom Humane Society, we declare that our donors have these rights:
1. To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
3. To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed of whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
